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Group Says Poverty, Disunity Responsible for Surge in Terrorism

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Group Says Poverty, Disunity Responsible for Surge in Terrorism

By: Michael Mike

The Northern Christian Youth Professionals (NCYP) has identified the surge in terrorism in Nigeria as a result of disunity among communities across the country and poverty among majority of citizens.

The group in a press statement signed by its Chairman, Isaac Abrak on Tuesday, said the persistent and growing threat of terrorism in Nigeria, particularly in the northern regions, is evident that terrorist groups, both local and international—including Boko Haram, ISWAP, Al-Qaeda affiliates, and more recently, the Lakurawa terrorist group—have exploited the longstanding divisions within our communities to carry out their heinous attacks.

Abrak said: “Terrorism thrives where there is disunity and poverty. In Nigeria, sectarian and political fault lines—especially religious divisions between Christians and Muslims—have allowed these criminals to operate with impunity. Rather than uniting to confront a common enemy, communities often fall into the trap of mutual suspicion and blame. This division has enabled terrorists to continue their violence across religious and political boundaries.”

He noted that: “We must ask ourselves: why do we continue to witness deadly attacks in Christian-dominated areas such as Plateau, Benue, and in the recent tragedy in Gombe, where a truck rammed into an Easter mass rally? Similarly, why are Muslim-majority states like Zamfara, Katsina, and Sokoto under constant siege? The answer is simple: terrorism knows no religion, region, or tribe. Nigeria as a whole is being targeted, and unless we unite, we risk losing everything, just as happened in countries like Afghanistan and Yemen.”

He however said: “The way forward is not through division, but unity—across religious, ethnic, and political lines. This unity must be backed by bold, people-centered policies that empower communities to protect themselves and deny terrorists the environment they exploit.

“One such policy is the revitalization of the Forest Guard, as proposed in President Bola Tinubu’s campaign manifesto. NCYP has long advocated for this initiative. Properly implemented, it would involve recruiting local community members—those who know the terrain intimately—to safeguard their forests. This would not only improve security but also create jobs and provide a steady income, reducing the appeal of terrorist recruitment.

“In tandem, we strongly support the full implementation of Local Government Financial Autonomy, as ordered by the Supreme Court. When funds are directly allocated to local governments, communities can witness real development at the grassroots. Economic empowerment at this level builds resilience against extremist influence.”

Abrak decried that: “Unfortunately, we continue to see political maneuvering and sabotage when it comes to implementing these people-oriented policies. For example, the debate over state police versus the Forest Guard should not be an either-or argument. If state police are formed, will they truly focus on reclaiming forests overrun by terrorists? And if State Police is viable, why hasn’t this government moved swiftly to implement it?

“Similarly, why have Local Government Councils not opened accounts with the Central Bank to allow FAAC funds to be deposited directly, as constitutionally mandated? These are serious questions our leaders must answer if they are truly committed to ending the insurgency that is devastating rural Nigeria.”

“We urge all Nigerians, especially those in rural communities, to raise their voices and demand full implementation of these critical policies. The political class has demonstrated that when the will exists, necessary legal reforms can be swiftly enacted—as seen when the National Assembly invoked the Doctrine of Necessity to resolve a constitutional crisis after President Yar’Adua’s death,” he said.

He advises that: “Let us show the same urgency in enacting laws and reforms that will empower our people, defend our communities, and defeat terrorism.

“We, the Northern Christian Youth Professionals, stand ready to partner with all patriotic Nigerians, regardless of religion or ethnicity, in the fight for a safer, united, and prosperous Nigeria.”

Group Says Poverty, Disunity Responsible for Surge in Terrorism

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Tipper truck kills several traders in Jalingo market crash

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Tipper truck kills several traders in Jalingo market crash

By: Zagazola Makama

A tragic road accident occurred on Saturday at the popular Mile 6 Market in Jalingo, Taraba State, when a tipper truck loaded with shaft sand lost control and rammed into a crowd of traders and shoppers.

Zagazola learnt the incident, which happened around midday, resulted in multiple fatalities and left several others injured. The exact number of casualties is yet to be confirmed as emergency responders continue rescue operations and assessment of the scene.

Sourcessaid the truck was speeding when one of its front tyres suddenly burst, causing the driver to lose control. The vehicle veered into the busy market area, knocking down people and structures along its path.

“It happened so fast,” said Musa Ibrahim, a local vendor. “The truck was on speed and after the tyre burst, the driver couldn’t control it. It just rammed into the crowd.”

Security operatives and medical personnel arrived swiftly at the scene to evacuate the injured to nearby hospitals. The body of the deceased has also been recovered, while efforts are ongoing to identify victims and notify their families.

The driver of the truck has been apprehended and is currently in custody as investigations continue into the cause of the crash.
End

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Former Footballer, 4 Others Arrested, Over 22.6kg Cocaine, Meth Seized at Lagos, Enugu Airports

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Former Footballer, 4 Others Arrested, Over 22.6kg Cocaine, Meth Seized at Lagos, Enugu Airports
…72-year-old Grandma, Beninese, Ithers Nabbed in NDLEA Raids in Delta, Kwara, Lagos

By: Michael Mike

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a former football player Segun George Hunkarin along with his businessman partner Ntoruka Chinedu over attempt to smuggle a consignment of cocaine into Nigeria through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

According to a statement on Sunday by the spokesman of the NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, Chinedu who is a frequent flyer known for conveying clothes from Turkey to Nigeria and foodstuffs from Nigeria to Turkey, was the first to be arrested upon his arrival at the Lagos airport last Tuesday, when his carry-on bag was searched, 37 wraps of cocaine weighing 800 grammes were seen to be concealed therein.

Babafemi said investigation showed that the suspect was coming from Turkey on Ethiopian Airlines flight but transited through Addis Ababa, Ethiopia where he collected the luggage from another person before heading to Nigeria.

He said further checks revealed that an accomplice who turned out to be the former professional footballer, Segun Hunkarin, was waiting for Chinedu at the airport carpark to collect the consignment from him. Hunkarin who had stayed years in Brazil playing for football clubs was promptly tracked and arrested at the carpark.

In his statement, Hunkarin was said to have claimed that while playing professional football in the South American country, he had only trafficked drugs twice from Brazil to Ethiopia but has never brought any to Nigeria.

Another Europe based businessman Amen Okoro was last Friday arrested by NDLEA operatives at the Lagos airport while attempting to traffic 5,000 pills of tramadol 225mg packaged as known malaria drugs such as Lonart, Amatem and Aluktem to Spain.

He was intercepted at the departure hall of terminal 2 of the airport during the outward clearance of passengers on Royal Air Maroc flight to Spain through Casablanca.

Babafemi said Okoro, who is into freight and logistics business between Europe and Nigeria, claimed that on his arrival in Spain, he would have taken a train to France where he resides and from there send the tramadol consignment to Italy for retailing.

At the Akanu Ibiam International Airport (AIIA) Enugu, Babafemi said NDLEA operatives last Friday intercepted a Maputo, Mozambique based bar attendant Ezenwaka Chibuzor. A search of his luggage led to the discovery of 17 cardboard size parcels of methamphetamine weighing 17.500 kilogrammes and three parcels of cocaine weighing 3.05 kilogrammes.

He revealed that the 38-year-old suspect was coming from Johannesburg, South Africa via Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on Ethiopian Airlines flight when he was interdicted and subjected to a search during which the illicit drugs concealed in bedsheets packed in his bags were discovered.

He noted that another passenger on board the same Ethiopian Airlines flight, 54-year-old Azu Kpodar was also intercepted at the Enugu airport by NDLEA operatives. When Azu, who arrived from Sao Paulo, Brazil, was searched, a liquid soap plastic container marked YPE, was discovered in his luggage. The substance was promptly taken for analysis at the NDLEA forensic and chemical laboratory, Enugu where the substance tested positive to cocaine.

The substance which turned out to be liquid cocaine weighed 1.250 kilogrammes, the
suspect who is a toy seller in Brinquedo, Sao Paulo, Brazil, claimed he purchased while shopping for his wedding ceremony in Nigeria.

NDLEA operatives at the Seme border area of Badagry in Lagos last Tuesday intercepted a 26-year-old Beninese Vode Jean-Luck while trying to smuggle 69 balls of skunk, a strain of cannabis with a gross weight of 29.5 kilogrammes from Benin Republic into Nigeria.

In Kwara state, a notorious drug dealer Mary Oladele (a.k.a Iya Nafi) was arrested last Wednesday when NDLEA operatives raided her base in Omu-Aran in Irepodun local government area of the state where various quantities of skunk, tramadol and flunitrazepam were recovered from her.

Babafemi said a 72-year-old grandma Mrs. Christy Ejaro was last Tuesday arrested by NDLEA operatives at Niger CAT area of Warri, Delta state, with several sachets of skunk packaged in retail size recovered from her.

The spokesman said the War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, social advocacy activities by NDLEA commands equally continued across the country in the past week.

Meanwhile, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd), while commending the officers and men of MMIA, AIIA, Delta, Kwara, and Seme commands of the agency for the arrests and seizures of the past week, equally praised their counterparts in all the commands across the country for ensuring a fair balance between their drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts.

Former Footballer, 4 Others Arrested, Over 22.6kg Cocaine, Meth Seized at Lagos, Enugu Airports

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Armed bandits abduct resident in Bature Daji, in Niger narrowly miss vigilante target

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Armed bandits abduct resident in Bature Daji, in Niger narrowly miss vigilante target

By: Zagazola Makama

Armed bandits in large numbers stormed Bature Daji community in Niger in the early hours of Saturday, abducting a resident while narrowly missing their original target, a local vigilante member.

Zagazola Makama gathered that the incident occurred around 5:30 a.m. when the attackers invaded the residence of one Dani, a known vigilante operative in the area. He was reportedly the primary target of the assault but managed to escape.

However, the gunmen kidnapped one Attahiru Ibrahim, popularly known as Sarki Daji, from the same neighborhood and whisked him away to an unknown destination.

Local sources revealed that the assailants later moved toward Gorogawu Village, a border community near the Republic of Benin, raising concerns of cross-border movement and security challenges.

A joint team of security forces, including military and other operatives, has launched a pursuit operation to rescue the victim and apprehend the attackers.

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